A preliminary report shows new orders and shipments for big-ticket manufactured durable goods lost steam in August. Inside the report, however, is some evidence that business investment for the long term is increasing.

The U.S. economy continued adding more jobs in August but at a slightly slower pace, leading to expectations the Federal Reserve will punt on a possible interest rate hike later this month. A separate report shows factory orders rebounded in the biggest gain in nine months.

While new orders for manufactured durable goods plunged in June, a closely watched economic indicator shows a gain for the first time in three months, as a separate report shows a big hike in new home sales and another is calling for even better retail sales.

Orders and shipments of long-lasting durable goods fell in May, according to a preliminary Commerce Department report. One measure of business investment fell by the most in three months, but other reports show homes and consumers remain a cornerstone of the economy.

Orders for durable goods recovered only somewhat in March following a big decline, and a key economic indicator within the measure failed to improve, adding to recent indications a slump in manufacturing is far from over.

Growth in the overall American economy in the final quarter of last year improved by double the government's initial estimate, according to a U.S. Commerce Department report released Friday. A separate reports shows the country’s manufacturing sector is still sluggish but housing continues to do well.

Following a raft of disappointing economic news, there are new encouraging signs about the health of the American economic, with improvements in some of the most closely watched measures – including the beleaguered manufacturing sector.

New orders for long-lasting durable goods plunged in December while shipments also fell, according to an advance report on Thursday from the U.S. Commerce Department, following a decision by the Federal Reserve to not raise a key interest rate.

A closely watched gauge of activity within the nation’s manufacturing sector shows it not only declined for the fifth straight month, but also that activity contracted during November for the first time in three years, according to the nation’s supply executives.

Economic watchers got a mixed bag of reports on Thursday. One showed an easing in part of the manufacturing sector, including a measure of business investment. However, two others were upbeat regarding housing and the upcoming holiday sales season.

Shipments of U.S. manufactured durable goods, those designed to last three years or more, rebounded in December but new orders turned in its worst performance since August, according to a new U.S. Commerce Department report.